N20568:801
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of martyrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of marytrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].
New-York: printed by William Durell, 1794
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
PROTERIUS was made a priest by Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, who was well acquainted with his virtues, before he appointed him to preach. On the death of Cyril, the see of Alexandria was filled by Dioscorus, an inveterate enemy both •o the memory and family of his predecessor. Dioscorus, however, knowing the reputation of Proterius, did the utmost in his power to gain his confidence and interest; as he thought he might be of singular service to him in carrying on his designs.
PROTERIUS, however, was not to be corrupted, the welfare of the church sat next his heart, and no prospect of worldly preferment could bribe him to forego his duty.
DIOSCORUS being condemned by the council of Chalcedon for having embraced the errors of Eutyches, was deposed, and Proterius chosen to fill the vacant see, and approved of by the emperor. This occasioned a dangerous insurrection, for the city of Alexandria was divided into two factions; the one to espouse the cause of the old, and the other of the new prelate. A great deal of mischief was done on both sides, and Proterius was in the most imminent danger, from a set of schismatics who would neither obey the decisions of a council, nor the emperor's decree.
DIOSCORUS being condemned by the council of Chalcedon for having embraced the errors of Eutyches, was deposed, and Proterius chosen to fill the vacant see, and approved of by the emperor. This occasioned a dangerous insurrection, for the city of Alexandria was divided into two factions; the one to espouse the cause of the old, and the other of the new prelate. A great deal of mischief was done on both sides, and Proterius was in the most imminent danger, from a set of chismatics who would neither obey the decisions of a council, nor the emperor's decree.
AS these disorders became serious, the governor of Th•bais marched at the head of a body of troops, in order to quell the sedition. The people, however, had worked up their imaginations to a kind of frenzy▪ when they heard of the approach of the governor, they armed themselves, marched out of Alexandria, gave him battle, and defeated him. The intelligence of this affair so exasperated the emperor, that •e sent a detachment of two thousand men against them; the appearance of whom, and the prudence of the governor of Alexandria, whose name was Florus, soon restored peace to the city.
AS these disorders became serious, the governor of Th•bais marched at the head of a body of troops, in order to quell the sedition. The people, however, had worked up their imaginations to a kind of phrenzy▪ when they heard of the approach of the governor, they armed themselves, marched out of Alexandria, gave him battle, and defeated him. The intelligence of this affair so exasperated the emperor, that •e sent a detachment of two thousand men against them; the appearance of whom, and the prudence of the governor of Alexandria, whose name was Florus, soon restored peace to the city.
THE discontented party, however, still beheld Proterius with an eye of resentment; so that he was obliged to have a guard out of respect to his personal safety, and at length, though naturally of a sweet and mild temper, was compelled to excommunicate some of them, and obtain their banishment from Alexandria. Ecclesiastical history, however, informs us, that, "When emperor Marcian's death, which happened two years after, gave a new turn to affairs, the exiles returned to Alexandria, engaged in their usual cabals against Proterius, and seemed resolved to be revenged on him for what they had suffered in the last reign. Timothy, a priest, who was at the head of all the designs that had been formed against Proterius, employed every art to ruin his credit, drawing the people from his communion, and raising himself to that see. At last, taking the advantage of the absence of Dionysius, who commanded the forces of that province, and was then in the Upper Egypt, he seized on the great church, and was uncanonically and sacrilegiously consecrated by two bishops of his faction, that had been deposed for heresy. The usurper went on in the exercise of all the episcopal functions, and used the whole rigour of his pretended authority to oppress the orthodox, till the commander's return, who, upon hearing the disorders that had been committed, and that Timothy was the chief author of them, drove that incendiary out of the town."
THIS affair so enraged the Eutychians, that they determined to wreak their vengeance on Proterius, who fled to the •urch for sanctuary: but on Good Friday, A. D. 4•7, a large body of them rushed into the church, and barbarously murdered the prelate; after which they dragged the body through the streets, […] it, cut it to pieces, burnt it, and scattered the ashes in the air.
THIS affair so enraged the Eutychians, that they determined to wreak their vengeance on Proterius, who fled to the •urch for sanctuary: but on Good Friday, A. D. 4•7, a large body of them rushed into the church, and barbarously murdered the prelate; after which they dragged the body through the streets, 〈…〉 it, cut it to pieces, burnt it, and scattered the ashes in the air.
JULIA, a Carthaginian lady, was taken prisoner when the Vandals sacked that city. After being sold and resold as a slave, she became the property of a Syrian pagan, named Eusebius. Her master could not but admire a religion which inspired such resignation and patience in vassalage, and the […] ⟨p. 78⟩painful employments: thus it is plain, that the humility and purity prescribed by christianity will attract even the admiration of heathens.
JULIA, a Carthaginian lady, was taken prisoner when the Vandals sacked that city. After being sold and resold as a slave, she became the property of a Syrian pagan, named Eusebius. Her master could not but admire a religion which inspired such resignation and patience in va••alage, and the 〈…〉 ⟨p. 78⟩painful employments: thus it is plain, that the humility and purity prescribed by christianity will attract even the admiration of heathens.
THE master of Julia frequently took her with him upon his voyages: in one of these they touched upon the island of Corsica, where Eusebius joined in an idolatrous festival; but Julia kept at a distance.
THE heathens complained of this conduct as disrespectful to their gods, and informed the governor Felix of it, who sent for Eusebius, and demanded what young woman it was that had refused to join in worship to the gods?
EUSEBIUS replied, that the young woman was a christian, and that all his authority over her had proved too weak to prevail with her to renounce her religion; but that, as she was a very diligent and faithful servant, he could not think of parting with her.
FELIX then pressed him to exert himself on this occasion, and either to oblige her to assist at the pagan worship, or to part with her; and offered to give him his own price, or four of his best female slaves in exchange for her, which Eusebius absolutely refused, saying, that he would not part from her at any price.
FELIX finding the master inflexible, determined to get her into his power by artifice. To effect this, he invited Eusebius to an entertainment, and having intoxicated him, he sent for Julia in the name of her master.
THE innocent slave not suspecting the trap laid for her, came immediately, when the governor told her that he would procure her liberty, if she would sacrifice to the heathen gods. To which Julia replied, that while she was permitted to enjoy her religion, she was as free as she desired to be.
